The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-08-06
Select gtorg.
AN I'LL WIND.

" does such creature contrive to
sht t.days without expiring from mani
m
ng spoke loudly, as if conscious of an
abilitycl express himself to the point and
not unwilling to hear himself talk But
he did not know that the person to whom
he had alluded had merely moved as far as
the other side of a curtain which draped
the door into the smaller and less frequent
ed dancing room. I was the creature.
could not help agreeing in part with
my plain-spoken satirist, but neither could
l avoid coloring with vexation. The man
to whom he spoke, a wary frequenter of
social places, turned the subject.
"a beautiful house we have here" said
he, looking about.
eyes," said his acquaintance in doubt
full tone of assent; "but it smacks of New
York Nothing substantial-little that is
new or individual. IF I know anything
about architecture, this house is very film
silly built. 1t would not stand alone with
out aid from the buildings on either side
I am surprised that the floors support so
well crowd of people such as we see here.
Pleasant, if there should be a sudden
smash ~
His friend, who was used to severe re-
marks on his native city and quite con-
scious that he himself knew nothing on the
subject, probably had little faith, moreover,
in the depth of the speakers knowledge,
excused himself and sauntered off. The
critic stepped through the doorway on my
side of the curtain and came face to face
with me before the redness had died away.
We had met before, and I had been civil
to him.
"Forgive me p was all he could stutter,
becoming in his turn scarlet with embar-
rassment and seizing my hand in both his:
1 had nothing to say, but he did not cease
to press my hand. 1t was plain how much
grieved he felt at having wounded me.
We were in one of those great houses up
...-., ,-.,a---Iw huilt belonging to.neQnla Enpy
little known until they give grand bali
and invite the curious and unexclusive toj
rush in and admire or criticise. Why this
acquaintance of mine was there | could mob
say; for my part had caused my name to-
be placed among the number of invited by
the man who arranges such lists for persons
unprovided with wide visiting circle of
their own. Our elderly host and hostess,
who stood, very much frightened at their
crowd of guests, near the doorway of the
first drawing room, were of the number
who are compelled to put themselves in the
hands of such man in order to fill their
apartments, and, for reasons of my own, |
had signifed my readiness to appear. Af
ter passing a few meaningless words with
the owners of the house and their pale,
timorous daughter, l had just reached the
spot where could get from the assem-
blage all the pleasure there was to be ex-
tracted so far as was concerned when my
equanimity was overthrown after the fash
ion mentioned.
"You are right enough in the main,
said I, beginning to return his pleasure, but
still little nettled, "yet it may be that
you are hasty in jumping to conclusions.
The dress and appearance which you have
some reason to assail has certain advantages
you may not yet have noticed. 1t makes
one a mere counter, so that a person can
slip from one part of the board to the other
unnoticed. 1t does not hinder one from
stopping where there is sonnet lg to in
terest."
"What you say convinces me more than
any thing else that I have been hasty, be-
side being shockingly rude" said he, loos-
ing my hand and smiling in my face in a
most disarming manner. He was hand
some fellow, with large sparkling eyes, and
when he fixed you fully with them you
began to feel that he was man to whom
you could make confidence with safety.
One was also suddenly aware that here was
person whose good opinion was worth
while; that, having established yourself not
entirely the silly being you looked, you
would be always sure of a generous friend.
II would like to tell you a bit of my
history said |, reddening again at the idea
of making a confidence to any one, but
pushed on by combination of emotions
and circumstances. 'tIf you have nothing
better to do will try to give you some
explanation of my present appearance"
We were both silent. While l was sunk
in thought his eyes, after rowing about the
room in which few dancers were airily
moving, rested on ayoung girl opposite and
remained fixed in observation.
While l cast about in my mind how to
begin glanced at his face and saw the
direction of his look. The sight was GER
tainly remarkable. The woman on whom
his dilated eyes were fastened was the CEN
tire point of the room SO far as beauty and
grace were concerned. Yet she was not
exactly besieged by men. She sat side
wise on her chair as if utterly Indifferent
to the position she assumed. Only one foot
showed under her dress, heavily trimmed
with old lace, yellow and foam-like, and her
posture suggested the idea that after the
fashion of schoolgirls she was sitting on the
other foot. But the one that was con-
sciously in public suficed. 1t was not
very small or a very thin foot, but rather
plump. The slipper on it had heel of
inordinate size and through the open work
in fine silk stocking showed her creamy
white skin, whittier even than the round
fingers of her ungloved hands. To crown
all this singular appearance came mass Of
diamonds about her waist, at her ears, in
her hair, carried like everything else with
g sort of insolence, as if the wearer were
quite sure this splendor could not over
come her own personal charms. At the
moment she was looking down dreariIy on
a row of rings of all kinds covering and
concealing her hands, the glitter of which
was caught and continued far up her round
arms by tier after tier of bangles-siIv er,